Mecha anime have been a staple of the medium since the late 1950s. Since the release of the revolutionary Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, they have taken the world by storm. When discussing the best of the genre, this is owed to their impressive animation, mature storytelling often centered around teenagers fighting wars, and the awesome, and extremely marketable, designs of the mecha they feature.
The best-designed anime mecha are often among the strongest in their respective series and are typically piloted by a series protagonist. It only makes sense that the most time and thought that the most work will go into designing the mecha that will be front and center in an anime, and featured across all its various merchandise. From well-known franchises like Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion to hidden gems like The Big O and Darling in the Franxx, no stone was left in turn in finding the best mecha designs in anime.
10 Gigantor’s Design Oozes Charm
Pilot: None
Gigantor is the original anime mecha, debuting back in the 1956 manga, Tetsujin 28-go, which was later adapted into the 1963 anime, Gigantor. Gigantor is nothing like modern anime mecha. Rather than being bright, colorful, and intricate, Gigantor is designed with a more simple 1950s sensibility toward giant robots.
Gigantor is clunky, bulky, and even a little goofy looking, but this is all part of its timeless appeal. Its plain silver chassis, long pointed nose, big googly eyes, and rotund form are unlike anything fans will find in modern anime. However, without its influence, no modern mecha would exist.
Tetsujin-28 Go
The adventures of a kid named Shotaro Kaneda and his robot, Tetsujin 28.
- Release Date
- October 20, 1963
- Cast
- Peter Fernandez , Billie Lou Watt , Gilbert Mack , Ray Owens
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator
- Mitutseru Yokoyama
9 Rayearth Matches Its Pilot with a Knightly Aesthetic
Pilot: Hikaru Shidou
Magic Knight Rayearth isn’t one of the most popular mecha anime out there, but the mecha within it have one of the most distinct aesthetics in the genre. Of the three leading Mashin piloted by the three main heroines, the series’ main mecha, Rayearth, has the strongest design.
Like the other Machin, also known as Rune Gods, Rayearth has the appearance of a knight, with heavy plate armor. Unique to Rayearth is its animal motif, which resembles a horned wolf. Rayearth’s red and gold color scheme creates a powerful contrast, and the mane of flames bursting from its back fittingly adds a nice flare. The orbs spread around its chassis and claws, along with the elaborate design of its sword’s hilt are small details that make Rayearth especially memorable.
Magic Knight Rayearth
Lucy, Anias and Marina, three girls from different schools are transported to the world of Zephyr as well as their mission to become Magical Warriors to rescue the captured Princess Esmeralda.
- Release Date
- October 17, 1994
- Seasons
- 2 Seasons
- Characters By
- Julie Maddalena, Wendee Lee, Bridget Hoffman
- Creator
- CLAMP
- Production Company
- TMS Entertainment
8 The Big O Brings a Film Noir Touch to the Mecha Genre
Pilot: Roger Smith
30 Best Mecha Anime Ever
Mecha is a staple genre of manga and anime. From Gundam to Evangelion, the best mecha series of all time finds clever ways to reinvent the genre.
The Big O is what happens when a mecha’s design is influenced by the film noir genre, classic tokusatsu productions, and Batman: The Animated Series. Together, these influences make The Big O stand out from the crowded pack of its futuristic sci-fi and fantasy-inspired contemporaries.
The Big O is as bulky and lumbering as its name implies, emphasizing its focus on strength and heavy-duty firepower over speed. The megadeus is nearly all black, which is fitting for the Batman-esque protagonist who pilots it. Orange, gold, and gray pepper the chassis of The Big O, with its crown serving as the location of its cockpit, and its chest piece resembling a steam boiler. An abundance of weapons are stored within The Big O, especially its arms, and the visible pipes give an idea of how the mecha manages them all.
The Big O
In a futuristic city with lost memories, an expert negotiator fights threats to the city with the help of an android and his own giant robot.
- Release Date
- October 13, 1999
- Cast
- Mitsuru Miyamoto , Steve Blum , Akiko Yajima , Motomu Kiyokawa , Tesshô Genda
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Creator
- Chiaki J. Konaka, Kazuyoshi Katayama, Kei’ichi Sato, Hajime Yatate
- Producer
- Tsutomu Sugita, Eiji Sashida, Ohashi Chieo
- Production Company
- Animaze, Bandai Visual Company, CTV Television Network
- Number of Episodes
- 28
7 Aerial is a Modern Icon
Pilot: Suletta Mercury
The main mecha featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, Aerial takes the classic Gundam aesthetic and perfects it. Featuring the traditional red, white, yellow, and blue color scheme, Aerial’s design is sleek, modern, and adds small, all-new touches to make the living mecha one of the coolest in the franchise.
Armed with a blaster and shield, Aerial’s appearance shines most when she breaks her shield apart into the GUND-BITs that compose it. Her glowing lights evoke a power unlike any other in the series, and the way the GUND-BITs surround Aerial, tethered by Permet waves, can either be awesome or terrifying depending on the situation.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
humanity has been split between those born on Earth (Earthians) and those in space (Spacians), with those inhabiting Earth living in poverty. On Mercury, the development of a format known as GUND to allow people to better survive in space is underway.
- Release Date
- October 2, 2022
- Cast
- Kana Ichinose , Lynn , Yōhei Azakami , Natsuki Hanae , Makoto Furukawa , Yume Miyamoto , Miyu Tomita , Mamiko Noto
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Franchise
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Cinematographer
- Shôta Kodera
- Distributor
- Sunrise, Crunchyroll
- Main Characters
- Suletta Mercury, Miorine Rembran, Guel Jeturk, Elan Ceres, Shaddiq Zenelli, Nika Nanaura, Chuatury Panlunch, Elnora Samaya / Prospera Mercury
- Producer
- Naohiro Ogata
- Production Company
- Bandai Namco Filmworks, Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), Sotsu, Sunrise
- Writers
- Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Number of Episodes
- 13
6 GaoGaiGar Embraces What the Mecha Genre is About
Pilot: Guy Shishiou
Serious and well-written as they can be, mecha anime will always carry at least an air of silliness to them. GaoGaiGar from The King of Braves GaoGaiGar not only embraces this fact but relishes it. Just like the series it hails from, GaoGaiGar is gloriously over the top, and nothing about it can be described as subtle.
GaoGaiGar features a loud, eclectic color palette, featuring red, white, blue, gold, black, and dark green. Despite having a lot going on, it all works together, as the black and white colors form the bulk of the mecha, allowing the other colors to build on them. GaoGaiGar’s wide shoulder pads parallel its even wider wings, the drills on its kneecaps are delightfully unnecessary, the lion head on its chest is iconic, and its massive Goldion Hammer is one of the most awesome weapons in mecha anime.
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
A special organization using giant robots and aided by an alien boy battles the threat of a menace that inflicts havoc by turning humans into destructive mecha menaces.
- Release Date
- February 1, 1997
- Cast
- Nobuyuki Hiyama , Maiko Itou
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Number of Episodes
- 49
- Directors
- Yoshitomo Yonetani
5 The RX-78-2 Gundam Set the Standard for the Genre
Pilot: Amuro Ray
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The Gundam series features a multitude of powerful mech suits but which one can be considered the strongest of all?
Mecha designs don’t get more iconic than that of the RX-78-2 from 1979’s Mobile Suit Gundam. Even among those who’ve never seen a Gundam series, the design of the original heroic mecha of the franchise is recognizable to nearly all anime fans. RX-78-2 didn’t just inspire every subsequent Gundam, but every subsequent mecha anime.
With its beam sword, blaster, and shield, RX-78-2 evokes heroism, fitting for its role as the light in the darkness of the One Year War. The color balance between red, yellow, white, and blue is perfect, and while the design is still steeped in sci-fi, it looks realistic enough to be something humans in real life could potentially build. In 2009, a full-scale recreation of the RX-78-2 was actually constructed as an exhibit at the Gundam Factory Yokohama.
Mobile Suit Gundam
Original title: Kidô senshi Gandamu.
In the war between the Earth Federation and Zeon, a young and inexperienced crew find themselves on a new spaceship. Their best hope of making it through the conflict is the Gundam, a giant humanoid robot, and its gifted teenage pilot.
- Release Date
- April 7, 1979
- Creator(s)
- Yoshiyuki Tomino , Hajime Yatate
- Cast
- Hirotaka Suzuoki , Tôru Furuya , Toshio Furukawa , Kiyonobu Suzuki , Michael Kopsa , Brad Swaile , Cathy Weseluck , Chris Kalhoon
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator
- Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate
- Production Company
- Nagoya Broadcasting Network (Nagoya TV), Sotsu Agency, Sunrise
- Number of Episodes
- 43
- Main Cast
- Tôru Furuya, Shûichi Ikeda, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Yô Inoue, Brad Swaile, Michael Kopsa, Chris Calhoon and Alaina Burnett
4 Lancelot is the Coolest Mecha in Code Geass
Pilot: Suzaku Kururugi
Code Geass‘ blend of medieval European and futuristic sci-fi aesthetic influences works out brilliantly, with the ultimate representation of the concept’s success being the design of the most prominent mecha in the series, Lancelot. Lancelot has one of the cleanest, most majestic looks of any mecha, while also perfectly representing the mindset of the villain who pilots it.
Despite being the tool of the fascist, imperialist Holy Britannian Empire, Lancelot bears the appearance of a heroic white knight, reflecting how its pilot sees himself. The gold piping along the white chassis gives Lancelot an ornate appearance, with its red trim and dark blue blasters completing the initial color scheme. Lancelot looks its best when it takes flight, with spectacular and sharp teal wings to do battle with in midair.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006)
After being given a mysterious power to control others, an outcast prince becomes the masked leader of the rebellion against an all-powerful empire.
- Release Date
- October 6, 2006
- Cast
- Jun Fukuyama , Takahiro Sakurai , Johnny Yong Bosch , Ami Koshimizu
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- Sunrise
3 Strelizia’s Design is Inspired by the Flower it’s Named After
Pilot: Hiro and Zero Two
The main mecha of Darling in the Franxx, Strelizia, breaks from nearly all traditions and follows its own original design philosophy. Strelizia is named after the flower also known as the bird of paradise, and, like its namesake, the custom-made FRANXX mecha features vibrant reds and oranges in its design, which pop against the otherwise white chassis.
Strelizia is more humanoid in appearance than most mecha, with an expressive face, a thin torso and legs, and armor that resembles clothing, such as its skirt and pointed shoes. Its bulky shoulder pads, horn, and antenna contrast with these elements to create an alien-like appearance. Strelizia’s impressive lance, Queen Pike, becomes its tail when it transforms into its lion-esque Stampede Mode.
Darling in the Franxx
In a future world where humanity has been driven to endangerment by giant beasts, a strike force is assembled to destroy the monsters and save the world.
- Release Date
- August 2, 2019
- Cast
- Yûto Uemura , Kana Ichinose , Jeannie Tirado
- Seasons
- 1 Season
- Creator
- Atsushi Nishigori, Naotaka Hayashi
- Production Company
- A-1 Pictures, ABC Animation, American Zoetrope, Aniplex, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
2 EVA Unit 01 is the Face of Neon Genesis Evangelion
Pilot: Shinji Ikari
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Mecha anime has developed beloved tropes that go hand in hand with the genre, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
As the mascot of the most critically acclaimed mecha anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion, EVA Unit 01 is equal parts as cool as its role demands it to be, and as unsettling as the series it hails from. Rather than simply being a machine, Unit 01 is a biomechanical cyborg, created using a sample of the second angel, Lilith.
EVA Unit 01’s skinny, primarily purple design is unlike any other. The green, blue, and orange in the design complement the purple, and the EVA’s horn, pylons, and gills form a strange but unforgettable silhouette. The most memorable aspect of Unit 01’s design is its berserk form. Its enlarged eyes, exposed teeth, and the way it crawls around on all fours turn an already creepy design into a creature of nightmares.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A teenage boy finds himself recruited as a member of an elite team of pilots by his father.
- Release Date
- October 4, 1995
- Cast
- Megumi Ogata , Kotono Mitsuishi , Megumi Hayashibara
- Seasons
- 1 Season
- Studio
- Gainax, Tatsunoko
- Creator
- Hideaki Anno, Masayuki, Kazuya Tsurumaki
- Producer
- Yutaka Sugiyama, Joseph Chou
- Production Company
- Gainax, Nihon Ad Systems (NAS), TV Tokyo, Tatsunoko Production
- Number of Episodes
- 26 Episodes
1 Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is the Strongest Mecha of All Time
Pilot: Simon and Team Dai Gurren
Exclusively appearing in The Lights in the Sky are Stars, the second film adaptation of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann appears toward the end as an evolved form of the titular Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. 52.8 billion light-years tall and packing more power than any other mecha, Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann shocked fans with its surprise appearance and made them fall in love with its epic and symbolic design.
Made entirely of pulsing Spiral Power, Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann resembles the long-dead figure who inspired the rest of the cast, Kamina, sporting his iconic red cape. However, instead of wearing Kamina’s sunglasses, it wears those of its creator and primary pilot, Simon. The design pays tribute to Simon’s role model, represents Simon taking his place as the ultimate hero of the universe, and succeeds in being awe-inspiring, despite its simplicity.
Gurren Lagann
Two friends, Simon and Kamina, become the symbols of rebellion against the powerful Spiral King, who forced mankind into subterranean villages.
- Release Date
- April 1, 2007
- Cast
- Shizuka Ito , Tetsuya Kakihara , Yuri Lowenthal , Michelle Ruff , Marina Inoue , Steve Blum
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Gainax
- Creator
- Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Number of Episodes
- 27
